An Unquiet Mind

A Memoir of Moods and Madness

By: Kay Redfield Jamison

Narrated by: Kay Redfield Jamison

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A deeply powerful memoir about bipolar illness that has both transformed and saved lives—with a new preface by the author.

Dr. Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive (bipolar) illness; she has also experienced it firsthand. For even while she was pursuing her career in academic medicine, Jamison found herself succumbing to the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic depressions that afflicted many of her patients, as her disorder launched her into ruinous spending sprees, episodes of violence, and an attempted suicide.

Here Jamison examines bipolar illness from the dual perspectives of the healer and the healed, revealing both its terrors and the cruel allure that at times prompted her to resist taking medication.

©1995 Kay Redfield Jamison (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“An invaluable memoir of manic depression, at once medically knowledgeable, deeply human and beautifully written ... at times poetic, at times straightforward, always unashamedly honest.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Stands alone in the literature of manic-depression for its bravery, brilliance and beauty.”—Oliver Sacks

“Jamison’s [strength] is in the gutsy way she has made her disease her life’s work and in her brilliant ability to convey its joys and its anguish.... Extraordinary.” —Washington Post Book World

Willing to Share

Kay’s willingness to share about her life and the many ups and downs has been wonderful to hear. She is an amazing woman!

From a Manic Depressive

It so great to know you are not alone. Despite having very different backgrounds, I feel like the author and I have the same experiences.
If you have bipolar disorder please don’t skip this!

Great read, highly relatable

If you’re looking to know more about bipolar disorder from a both clinical and personal perspective, I recommend listening to this. The author has a very soothing voice, and I found myself being sucked into her highly relatable story. I’ve listened to it 2 times so far and will definitely listen to it again! It’s a quick pace and told chronologically via age line. My only critique is the ending felt a bit rushed; it was kind of lacking and I wanted something more. It felt a bit unfinished like the author wanted to say more but couldn’t for whatever reason.

Great read

A very open and candid response to her bipolar disorder takes the reader on a journey with her that helps to understand what it’s like for someone with bipolar.

Exactly what I needed

I am newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Trying to understand what I am going through, have been going through, and what is to come has been daunting. Finding Dr. Kay’s memoir and being able to actually hear it in her voice has been extremely eye-opening and comforting. She explains beautifully what it feels like inside a bipolar mind, what we battle with, especially when you do not know what is going on before you are diagnosed. 

Absolutely incredible!

Delving deep into her own mind and experience with bipolar, this book is well written and magnificently informative.. especially for those who have directly or indirectly been affected by bipolar. Highly recommend !

informative

this was a great review of a high level academic and all of her struggles and fears. I would hope that something was said about bipolar 2, without psychosis.

Saved my life

I needed to hear your struggle with lithium, to face my own resistance and save my life. I checked myself into a psych ward just after reading about 1/2 of the book and I knew my life depended on medication. Thank you for your openness and truth, in sharing your experience. I am alive today, as I wish to stay, and for that in part, I thank you.

inspiring

I couldn't put it down.. it has inspired me to seek treatment again for the 7th time in my life, giving me hope. I love the stories of her life and how beautifully written it is. How it made me cry because someone felt like I do at this very moment of deep depression.. thank you for writing this book and reading it.

Thank you!

What does Kay Redfield Jamison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Thank you for writing this book. Your story and descriptive experience conveys so clearly what it is actually like to live with this condition and this difficult reality. Your book makes me feel that I am not alone in this struggle and that hope exists in achieving a balanced life. I am eternally grateful that you took this courageous step in sharing your story. The stigma against those who suffer from mood disorders leads so many to remain quiet about their condition; often preventing or delaying treatment. After reading your book I felt as if someone had read me a story that presented me with a mirror of my life and mind; an explanation for why I have always felt that I experience life so different from everyone else. It is comforting to know that I am not alone in this experience. The waves of chaotic thoughts in my mind, creation of impulsive imaginative paintings, and the feelings of extreme passion, agitation, anger and anguish are exhausting. I believe your book has saved my life and the lives of others.